The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-08-10
THE DEACON'S SURPRISE.

off his boots and sat down by the Kitchen
fire, looking around ut the family with
unusual seriousness.
His wife and his pretty daughter,
Kate, were chopping meat and pairing
apples for mince-pies; and his tall son,
"Gene," was mending a wash-tub.
Mrs. Holcomb looked ut the deacon
sharply, and suspending her chopping-
knife.
Anything the matterS" she said anX-
iously.
Nothing very bad" the deacon re-
sponded, looking across the stove Mt her
aflectionately.
you won't think SO. anyhow. says
to Seth and William, Il know just what
she'll meaning you"
"What on earth are you talking
about?'
The deacon drew letter from his
pocket.
''From the colonel's lawyer" he an
nounced.
The colonel was the deacon's half
brother, an elderly eccentric person,
who had died month ago in the viii
lage where he had lived.
Hasn't turned out to De worth pile
of money, and left it to Us, has hep
said Gene gaily.
'Hain't left us no money" said the
deacon. Hadn't none to leave, reck-
on. I'm ruther astonished. The colonel
was worth considerable along one spell.
No; but he's left us something else"
what" said Kate eagerly.
"It's from his lawyer, rs l says, the
deacon rejoined. unfolding the letter.
"And Seth and William got copies of it.
We was all at the post-oflice when the
mail come, and took 'em out together.
1T says" he went on slowly-"and
Seth's and Williams says the very same
thing-that it was the cslonel's last wish
that his daughter Malvina should have
n home out here, with Seth or William
or me- He said that whoever took her
would be doing an act of charity, and
would be sartain to get rewarded in
heaven"
well. said Gene, going on with the
wash-tub calmly. ''of course Uncle Seth
is going to take her? He's the best
able TO.
Il ruther expected myself" said the
deacon hesitatinglv, THAT Seth would
step forward in this here crisis; but he
hain't. He said he didn't hardly see
how he could do ii. He said Malvina
must be somewhere nigh fifty by this
time; and, being an old maid, she might
be cantankerous. and Julia Ann
mightn't be able to get along with her.
He said William and me would have TO
settle it between us.
"Weli, never" said Mrs. Holcomb
indignantly-"him. with all his money
and that big houser'
"What did Uncle William say?" said
Kate. "Now see here, Pa Holcombr'-
rs the deacon's kind eyes fell before her
gaze-'you don't mean to say that he's
going to leave il to you to do-you, the
poorest of them ALP"
The deacon moved uneasily.
81 don't want to blame William, he
said mildly. IL can see it's just rs he
says"
"What did he say?" said Kate. her
black eyes flashing.
ale said he didn't see how he could
take her, nohow," the deacon replied.
"He's building his new barn, and he
don't feel like having any more expense
just now. And he said he couldn't
think of boarding people without moth
ing more substantial than reward in
heaven to look forward to"
Hes a BRUTE said Gene warmly
"he and Uncle Seth both, But you're
not going to let them impose upon you.
father? Why, neither of them would
feel it, but you-good gracious
Gene looked around the bare little
kitchen meaningly.
ii always thought q sight of the colo
mel, said the deacon, looking up at the
cracked ceiling, Though he wasn't
nothing but half-brother; and | can t
just bring myself to refuse the shelter of
my house, if it amt much, to any of his
kin. There's where it is
You dear old silly par cried Kate.
And she slammed her apple-pan on
the table. rushed around to the deacon :
chair. and kissed him violently.
'Your pa right. children, - said Mrs.
Holcomb, resuming her chopping-knifc
quietly. "It's cur duty. plain Is day, TO
take the poor creetur."
There" said the deacon triumph
antly, 81 knew where you'd stand. |
told Seth and William so.
We'll" said Gene, rising from the
wash-tub with good-naturedly despair
ing gesture. 'we are TO have our cousin
Malvina, Kate; but we are to give up all
hopes of a college course and we are to
be married TO Mark Hill in the dress we
have on-we shall not be able to scrape
up money enough for new one by next
spring, with Cousin Malvina on our
hands"
He put an arm about his sisters waist
in mock sympathy, and whirled laugh
ingly away.
The deacon looked across ut his wife
rather soberly.
HI'm afraid it's true enough" he said.
mo such thingin said Mrs. EIolcomb
briskly. And s'posing it was? Mark
Hill would marry her quick enough i'm
her old duds, ] rcckonI'
"But 'Gene." said the deacon anxious